Railway car



Jan. 1, 1952 E. G. GOODWIN RAILWAY CAR 8 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 17,1946 E. G. GOODWIN Jan. l 1952 RAILWAY CAR Filed May 17, 194e 8Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 15.11952 E. G. GOODWIN RAILWAY CAR Filed May A17,194e 8 Shee'cs-Sheeil 5 E. G. GOODWIN Jan. 1, 1952 RAILWAY sheets-sheet4 Filed May 17, 1946 IIIlIVII Jan. 1, 1952 E. G. GOODWIN RAILWAY CAR 8Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 17, 194e E. G. GOODWINl Jan. l, 1952 RAILWAYCAR Filed May 17, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 E. GOODWIN Jan. l, 1952 RAILWAYCAR 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed May 1'7, 1946 Jam l 1952 E. G. GOODWIN2,580,760

RA'ILWAY CAR Filed May 1'?,k 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 in providing a dropend door -wthftubularmeans Patented Jan. l, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE My invention relates to railway cars and more particularly tospring means for drop end doors of gondola cars and to a method ofapplying the spring means to the doors.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a drop end door of agondola car with spring means which is energized upon opening'of thedoor and tends to return the door to closed position. f

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method wherebythe spring device formed of torsion bars is subjected to initial torsionduring the assembling operation of the door with the car.

The primary feature of the invention consists in providing a drop enddoor of a railway gondola car with torsion bars extending longitudinallyof the lower edge of the door, the outer ends of the bars being securedto the side walls of the car against rotation and the door beingprovided with means for twisting the bars as it moves toward openposition so as to provide a force tending to return the door to closedposition.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing the lower edge ofa drop end .door with a tubular housing in which a plurality of torsionbars are disposed, the outer ends of the torsion bars being secured ltothe side walls of the car against rotation and means beingdispo'sed inthe tubular portion of the door for operatively engaging the bars andtwisting them as the doorV moves toward open position to provide a forcetending to return the door to closed position.

. A further feature o-f the invention consists in providing a drop enddoor with a tubular portion along its lower edge having a bracketintermediate the sides of the door for engaging the inner ends oftorsion bars which, at their outer ends, are secured to the sidewalls'of the car and are, therefore, twisted when the door is movedtoward open position to thereby provide a force tending to return thedoor to closed position.

A sti11 further and more specific feature of the invention consists inproviding a dro-p end door having a downwardly and inwardly inclinedflange with `a U-shaped member providing aV housing for torsion barsextending longitudinally of the door, the outer ends of the torsion barsbeing held by the side Walls of the car against rotation and the barsbeing adapted to bel twisted as the door moves toward open position toprovide a force tending to return it to closed position.`

A still further feature of the invention consistsy at its' lower edgeadapted toencircle inwardly projecting bosses of brackets secured to thecar sides, the outer ends of the torsion springs being held againstrotation by the brackets and the torsion springs being adapted to betwisted upon movement of the door toward open positionvto provide aforce tending to return the door to closed position.

Other and more specific features of the invention, residing inadvantageous forms, combinations and relations of parts, willhereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Y t

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a railway gondola car showing adrop end door of standard manufacture in elevation as viewed from theend of the car. 4

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on a line corresponding to line 2 2of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View partly in section and partly in elevation of thebracket secured within the tubular portion of the drop end door.

Figure 4 is a side view in elevation of one of the brackets secured tothe car sides, the torsion bars engageable thereby being shown insection.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a gondola carshowingV a drop end door embodying another form of my invention.

, Figure 6 is a vvertical sectional view taken on a line correspondingto line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a horizontal fragmentary sectional view of a railway gondolacar showing the corner of the car illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 5. l

Figure 9 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the doorbracket for the torsion bar of the form of the invention illustrated inFigure 5.

Figure 10 is aside view of the bracket as seen in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a top view of the bracket, partly in section and partly inelevation.

Figure 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the bosses ofone of the car brackets.

Figure 13 is an enlarged elevational view of one of the door hingebrackets.

,Figures 14 and 15 are views respectively corresponding to Figures 6 and7 of a third form of the invention.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a railway gondolacar showing a drop end door thereof embodying the third Vform of theinvention.

Figure 17 is a' vertical sectional'view of the tubular member'at thelower edge of the drop end Figure 21 is an end elevational view of the"portion of the car shown in Figure 20 illustrating the location of thedoor abutting members with respect to the center sill of the car.

Referring more particularly to the drawingsV and to the form of theinvention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, I indicates the sidesheets of the side walls of a drop end railway gondola car to which, asis well known,V corner posts 2 are respectively secured. In addition Atothe iiange 3l which is secured to the side walls of the car, each cornerpost has a flange 4 which extends transversely of the car across theadjacent end thereof. l

Pivotally associated with the car adjacent itsY opposite ends are dropend doors 5, only'oneof which has been illustrated since the two doorsare of identical construction. The flanges 1If of the corner posts arearranged t overlap the outer faces of the drop end door and provide anabutment therefor when the door is in upright closed position. v Y I YAdjacent its lower corners, the door may be advantageously provided witha pair of brackets 6 each having a portion 'I 'secured to the main bodyportion of the door and 'a flange secured to an adjacent marginal flange8a ofthe door which preferably inclines inwardly as shown in Figure l.The door illustratedl to which this present embodiment of thev inventionis applied has a downwardly and Vinwardly inclined lower flange 9 towhich the brackets lv are also preferably secured. Thel brackets arerespectively formed with outwardly projecting portions I9 which encircleinwardly projecting bosses II of brackets I2 which are rigidly securedto the sides of the car whereby the door is pivotally sup'- ported. Thecylindrical portions II) may Vadvantageously be reinforced and connectedtothe' main portions of the bracket 6 by triangularly shaped rigidifyingribs I3. The lower portion of the dooris provided `with a tubularhousing which preferably extends from one side of the door to the otherand, inthe pres` ent embodiment of the invention, may y conveniently beformed by a U-shaped` memfberiii whose upper ends are welded to the'door fadjacent opposite edges of the inclined'angef'g; The door is thusprovided with arcurved or 'sermcircular lower portion which :ispreferably concentric with the pivotal axis of the door. This enablesthe lower edgeof the door to be disposed closely adjacent the floor ofthe car and dirt or other foreign matter which may pass 'under it willnot obstruct or interfere with movement of the door on its rigid pivotalconnections to lthe car as the rounded lower edge will merely slide ondirt which may have accumulated in the cavity between the bottomportionof the door and the end of the car. l

Disposed within the, tubular portion" and secured to thellower flange 3before thelJ-shaped member I4"is1connected 'thereto' is a bracket AI 5vhaving oppositely opening recesses I6 for red ceiving the inner ends oftorsion bars I1 which extend longitudinally of the lower edge of thedoor. To prevent any turning of the bracket I5 with respect to the door,it is formed with laterally projecting ears or the like I8 for receivingrivets I9 whereby it may be rigidly secured to the inclined ange 9. Inaddition, the bracket may be conveniently provided with downwardlyextendinglugs or vthe likel 20 which are adapted to fit within suitablerecesses in the bottom of the U-:shaped member I4. Thus bracket I5 isprevented from turning by the rivets I9 as well as bythe lugs or studs20 engaging recessed portions of .the U-shaped member I4 which, asstated before, is secured to the lower edge of the door afterthe-bracket has been riveted in place.

A plurality of torsion bars I'I arranged in over` lapping 'engagementare preferably disposed on opposite sides of the bracket I5 with theirinner ends tting within the recesses IB.- The outer ends ofthe'torsionbars are inserted into recesses 2l in the respective bosses II of thecar brackets I2. The portions of the bosses II which extend beyond therecessed portions I6 of the car advantageously providedwith-substahtially tri'- angularly shapedribs or the like 22 forguidingthe ends of the bars when being inserted in the recesses. Y d I By thusholding the outer ends of the torsion bars against yrotation withrespect to thefc'ai'v body and by also holding the inner ends-'of thetwo sets of torsion bars against rotation withl respect to'the'door, itwill be appreciated Ithat,

when the door is moved inwardly towardit's op'en position, the vbarswill bev twisted and thereby provide a force tending to return thed'oor'to upright closed position. With the aidpo the torsional'vfo'rcesprovided by the bars I1, it-will be readily apparent that the door maybe raised from its horizontal openV position to its vertical closedposition by a single workman instead-of by several as have heretoforebeen required.

The torsion bars may, of course, be of such size as to completelycounterbalance the weight of of the'bracket I5,` itwill, of course, beappreciated'that 'ai smallerl spring forcey may `be obtained bycompletely omitting the torsion 'bars on 'onesideof the bracket.'Moreoven when tor'- sion bars extend from only one of the carsides tothev bracket I5, the torsion to be imparted by the bars` tc Athe doormay be varied or Aadjusted by shifting the bracket transversely 'of thecar` andsecur ing"it tothe ldoor in the desired positionof adjustment.'s s A While it is preferred that the torsion bars themselves beinsufficient to cause the 'door to movefro'm yopen to 'closed position,-it is desired that they exert some' Ytorsional force even after thedoor has yassumed fully closed'pos'ition soas to li'oldthe'door in thatposition unattended while the'usialretainingmeans v(not-shown) 7bare'operat'dto lock thefdoor in closed'position.

brackets fort'receiving the torsion' bars may'fbe Instead of 'havingtorsion bars on both sides 'To accomplish this, the recesses 2| in thecar brackets I 2 are inclined relatively to the substantially horizontalrecesses I6 in the bracket I5, it being seen that all of the recessesare enlarged at points opposite the walls thereof which are engaged bythe bars so as to enable them to be easily inserted in the recesses andto also eliminate the necessity of machining the recesses for the entirewidth of the bars. Thus before the door is applied to the car, thetorsion bars I'I are inserted within the recesses I6 and the carbrackets I2 are mounted on the opposite sides,

of the door in engagement with the outer ends ofthe torsion bars. Inview of the relative disposition of the recesses I6 in the bracket I5secured to the door and the recessesr 2| in the car brackets I2, thelower ends 23 of the car brackets which are offset from the door willdepend below the bottom portion of the bracket 24 which is disposedimmediately below the torsion bars. Thus when the door is lowered intothe car for connection thereto, the depending portions 23 of the carbrackets engage the floor or some other portion of the car before thedoor comes to rest upon the car floor. This initial engagement of thecar brackets with the car body causes them to rotate into the positionsshown in the drawings and thus imparts some torsion to the bars I'I.After the car brackets have been rotated into the more or less uprightpositions shown in the drawings to impart initial torsion to the barsI1, they may be secured in the desired positions by first placing adrift pin through one of the apertures in the brackets and thecorresponding apertures in the car sides. Thereafter, the brackets maybe easily riveted in place.

It should be noted that the bottom of the U-shaped member I4 is providedwith a plurality of drain holes 25 so that moisture collecting withinthe member mayieasily drain therefrom. Moreover, adjacent lits oppositeends, the U-shaped member is also provided with openings 26 forreceiving depending lugs ZI of the hinge brackets 6 whereby the weldconnections between the door and the rmember I4 are relieved from unduestrain upon movement of the door to and from closed position.

The end sill cover plate 28 at each end of the car has an upwardlyprojecting flange 29 which is overlappingly secured to an upright flange38 of the end floor supporting angle 3|, the other flange 32 of theangle underlying and thus supporting the floor 33 of the car. Theupwardly extending portion 29 of the end sill, as well as the upwardlyextending flange of the end angle, terminates in a horizontal plane nearthe horizontal plane passing through the pivotal axis of the door. Whenthe door is closed these upstanding portions overlap the outer face ofthe door, and when the door is open they cooperate with the U-shapedmember I4. By arranging the upper edges of flanges 29 and 38 in thismanner, the formation of pockets between the flanges and the door, whenthe door is in open position, is eliminated so that dirt which mightpossibly prevent movement of the door to closed position is therebyprevented from collecting and lodging therein. This feature ofconstruction whereby foreign matter cannot collect adjacent the hingeaxis 'of the door when the door is open and thereby interfere withclosure of the door is applicable to all types of drop end gondola cardoors having curved lower portions, such as the member I 4,y

While the upright flange of the end floor angle and the correspondingpart of the end sill cover plate have heretofore served as abutments toengage the lower portion of the pivoted doorV when in closed position,upright members 34 se,-r

-members may be placed transversely of the car as seen in Figures 20 and21 whereineach is shown as a plate member extending longitudinally ofthe car. f

The end sill cover plate 28 overlies the end sill I9 Which may be of anyconventional shape,

such as a channel or the like, having a web and inwardly projectingflanges SI. Intermediate its length and at the center of the car, theend sill is interrupted by the center sill 82 which may be convenientlyformed as an integral member having sides 83 connected by a top wall 84,the sides terminating in outwardly projecting flanges 85. The uprightdoor abutting members 34 are preferably disposed in the planes of thesides 83 of the center sill.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 to 13, inclusive,the tubular member extending longitudinally of the lower edge of thedoor maybe formed by a pipe or the like 35y welded or otherwise securedto the door and it is disposed below the bottom edge of the door so thatthe lower half thereof provides a curved portion concentric with thepivotal axis of .the door. A downwardly inclined shedding plate 36 maybe employed with the pipe to prevent dirt from collecting in the anglewhere the pipe is secured to the door, one edge of the plate beingsecured to the upper portion of the pipe and its opposite edge beingsecured to the inner face of,

the door.

The lower corners of the drop end door 3l may be provided with hingecastings 38 similar to the hinge brackets 5 of the first describedembodiment of the invention. These castings or brackets respectivelyhave plate portions 39 secured to the main body portion of the door andflanges 48 secured to the lower portion of inwardly inclined marginalflanges 4I of the door. In addition, each bracket 38 is formed with acylindrical portion 42 which is Yadapted to enf circle an inwardlyextending boss 43 of an adjacent bracket 44 secured to the neighboringside wall of the car. By having the brackets 38 encircle the bosses 43of Vthe car brackets 44, the` door is pivotally connected to the car.

At about the center of the door is a bracket 454 which is rigidtherewith. This bracket serves the same purpose as bracket I5 of thepreviously'` described form of the invention and is formed with acylindrical body portion having oppositely arranged portions 46 disposedwithin the pipe 35 which is preferably formed in two sections, eachextending in opposite directions from the casting 45. Y

Each of the portions 46 is formed with a recess 4'I for receivingtheinner ends of torsion bars 48, as clearly shown in Figures 9 and 10. Therecesses in the casting 45 are of the same shape as those formed in thebrackets I5, hav.

ing diagonally opposite substantially horizontal surfaces 49 adapted toengage the torsion bars,

48 and diagonally arranged inclined portions 50:

Which, as pointed out in the description l0f.

machining the top and bottom surfaces=ofthe` ing leg-'or the like 5Iwhichisprovided withaV plate portion 52 -for'engaging'the'adjacent innerface--of the door and, to properly. position thek casting on 'the door,theplate-iportionf52 may;A be formed with an' inwardly' projecting lugL53 adapted to extend withinanropeningfin Athe'door.`

Because of the upwardly extendingV memberv I. the pipe 35 Vis formed insections, one end of each section encircling one of the cylindricalportions 46 of the casting andthe other 'end thereof encircling aconical extension 5'4' of'the adjacent door vbracket *38; Bytaperingithe lex-l terior of the portion 54, the adjacent tubularsectionV may be easily placed thereoverand thereafter welded to the doorbracket, as indicated atl55.

The bosses 43 of the carbra'ckets 44'are Arecessed, as indicated at 56,similarly to thecar brackets vl2 ofthe rst describedembodim'e'nt of theinvention to receive the outer ends of the torsion bars 48. The bracketsare likewise formed with triangularlyshaped guiding flanges 51 extendingfrom the recessed portions 56to theends of the bosses. It is tobeappreciated that these flanges-51 also afford means for rigidifyingthe bosses 43. vThe center-'casting 45 is alsoA formed` with 'flanges 58for Vguiding fthe torsion bars into Athe recesses 41.

With the inner endslof the torsion'bars held against rotation withrespect'to the door by "the casting 45 and the outerfends of the barsheld against rotation -withrespect rto the car by the brackets 44, itwill be perceived that, as the door is moved toward open position, thebars are twisted and thereby provide al force Ywhich tends.

to cause the door to returnv to` upright closed position.

The casting 45 on the-door isxpreventedrfrom relativerotation withrespect thereto not only by the upright member 5I but also`by'a'downwardlyextending. lug orprojection 59 which is embedded in weld60 connecting the sectionsofthe pipe together and to the casting'.

As seen in Figures 6, 8 arid also lligure 2l,V the upwardly extendingportionsk 6I of the Aend 'i sill cover. plate 62, as well as theupwardly extend'- ing vportion 63 of the end floor fsu-pporting angle64, terminates approximately in `arhorizontal plane passing through thepivotal-axis of thev door so that, when the door. isfin open :position,no pocket :is `formed between the door and these upwardly Aprojectingportions lin vwhich foreign Vmaterial may collect which wouldinterferewith movement of the door to closed position.

Aplurality of upright 'members 55 -are `secured to' the end sill coverplate and extend over-and above the upper edges of the upstandingportions 6I and 63 ofthe end sill and 1end floor ures5 to 13,inclusive', the tubevorlpipe--GEf-along,l

the lower edge ofthe doormaybe :made of sufiiciently heavy material -sothat, asshowniin the form of the invention"illustratedflin ligure's.A14A to 19, inclusivepthe brackets maybefdispensedwith and the pipeitself "encircle-inwardly.uprojecting bossesG-Tfof bracketslafsecuredltotheicar sides and thereby aiorda 1c ivot`al fsupporftorf the door.'`In2sucheailconstruction, the door will be'pivotallyconnected `to 'the'car 1in the. same manner las in previously.l described embodiments ofVthe invention. -A v.downwardly inclined f shedding plate Gef-'identicalwith.-V shedding plate 36 in''the form of'the inventionl illustrated inFigures'i 1:0113; inclusive', may beemployedY in connecti'ori with thepipe6`6.

The'ipipe 66 may-'advantageously extend'continuously from one-sideof thecarto theother by intcriorly providing'. it with a casting 10. Thiscasting isfformed 'with arecess- 1l for receiving a member '12,Vwhich'mayconvenientlybe platelike, andii's riveted to the doorand'extends.

throughfa'nopenin'g 13 in the pipe into tnelre'ces's 1l. Thus thecastingl is rmly locked against re1ative"rotation with respect-tothepipev66. In

using va casting of this form,iit will, of course, be

appreciated'that'it will ha'veito be Ica'refully assembled with the pipe66's'0 that'its reces's`1l will register with theopening 13so as'toreceive the plate-like'member 12.

In addition to having recessed portions 114 for receivingftheinn'er'en'ds of torsion bars 15 which extend' in opposite directions tothe sides of the carirom adjacent the central portion of the door, thecasting '10' is fformed intermediate theY recesses 14 withan'openingpermitting a torsion bar 16 to extendcontiriuously from oneside ofthe car to theother. Asin other forms of the invention, the outeren'd'sioflthe torsionbars vare heldagainst rotation .by being' disposedwithin recesses 11 in the bosses 61o'f the car'brackets. Thus 'the sametorsional forces are 'set up in the bars, whenthe door isf-moved towardopen position, as in the yotherembodiments 'of the invention.

It'will; offcourse, berecogniz'ed that the casting positioned withinthecentral portion of the tubular lower edgeiof vthe Adoorln'iay beprovided, as seeniniFigure v19,'with'an opening of sufficient size t0permit a plurality of torsion bars 18 to extend `l`continuously from'one side of 'the car tothe other insteadof merely having oppositelyopening' recesses-for receiving shorter torsion bars.

As all structural parts of the car illustrated in therabove'embodimentsof 'the invention are identical, the 'same'n'umerals'have been used todesignate'th'e corresponding parts of car construction throughout thespecification.

Various alterations 'may be 'made in details of thestructural'embodiments of the-inventionhere-disclosedwithout departingfrom the spirit and-"scope of'the 'invention-- as dened in the appendedclaims.

WhatI claim is:

1; In"arailwayfgorid0la car having side walls anda-'pivotedld'r'openddoor 'adapted 'to bedisposed"inuprightSpositionfwhen closed and adapted to befdisp'osedin'ov'erlapping lrelation with th'ej-caroor 'when'opened, abracket mounted in the lower portion-of the door having'oppositelyopenin'g'recesses, `a tubular housing 'extending on opposite sidesoffsaid bracket, brackets secured to the side walls-'of the lcaraffording a pivotal 'mounting for the door, vand torsion bars disposedwithin said housing and having their inner ends in said recesses, theouter ends of the said'torsion rods'beingvsecured against rotation bysaid bracketssecured to the car sides, said'bracketon thedoor beingcooperable with said ito'rsionibars to -twistthemas the door movestoward lopen lposition to thereby provide a v-force tendingito 'returnfthe door to closed position` ed to be disposed in overlapping relationwith the car floor when opened, a tubular housing extending along thelower portion of the door, brackets on the side walls of the caraffording a pivotal support for the door, a bracket mounted within saidtubular housing intermediate the sides of the door and having oppositelyopening recesses, and torsion bars disposed within said housing andhaving their inner ends respectively disposed in said recesses andhaving their outer 'ends connected to the said brackets on the sidewalls of the car to prevent rotation of the outer ends thereof, saidbracket on the door being cooperable with said torsion bars and beingadapted to subject them to torsion when the door is moved toward openposition to thereby provide a force tending to return the door tovclosed position.

3. In a railway gondola car having sidewalls and a pivoted drop end dooradapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adapted to bedisposed in overlapping relation with the car ioor when opened, bracketson the side walls of the car affording a pivotal support for the door, abracket secured to the lower portion of the door intermediate the sideedges thereof andhaving oppositely opening recesses, and torsion barsrespectively disposed in said openings and extending toward the sides ofthe car, said brackets on the car sides respectively holding the outerends of said bars against rotation whereby when the door is moved towardclosed position the bars are twisted and thereby provide a force tendingto return the door to closed position.

4. In a railway gondola car having side walls and a pivoted drop enddoor adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adaptedto be disposed in overlapping relation with the car floor when opened,said door having a downwardly extending flange adjacent its lower end,means secured to said door and disposed below said iiange forming atubular housing, torsion bars disposed within said housing and connectedto the side walls of the car against rotation, and means on the doorintermediate the sides thereof having oppositely opening recesses inwhich the inner ends of said torsion bars are mounted for twisting saidbars as the door moves toward open position to thereby provide a forcetending to return the door to closed position.

5. In a railway gondola car having side walls and a pivoted drop enddoor adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adaptedto be disposed in overlapping relation with the car oor when opened,said door being provided adjacent its lower edge with an inwardly anddownwardly inclined ange, a substantially U-shaped member disposed belowthe flange and connected to the door adjacent opposite edges of theflange, torsion bars extending longitudinally of said U-shaped memberand having their outer ends connected to the side walls 'of the caragainst rotation, and means on the door intermediate the sides thereoffor twisting said bars as the door moves toward open position to therebyprovide a force tending to return the door to closed position.

6. In a railway gondola car having side walls and a pivoted drop enddoor adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adaptedto be disposed in overlapping relation with the car floor when opened,said door having an inwardly and downwardly inclined iiange adjacent itslower edge, a, bracket secured to said ange intermediate the sides ofthe door, and torsion bars extending substantially parallel with saidange and having their outer ends secured to lthe car sides againstrotation, said bracket on the door engaging said bars for twisting themas the door moves toward `open position to thereby provide a forcetending to return the door to closed position.

'7. In a railway gondola car having side walls and a pivoted drop enddoor adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adaptedto be disposed in overlapping relation with the car floor when opened,said door havinga downwardly inclined flange adjacent its lower edge, abracket secured to said flange and disposed on the under side thereof, a.member secured to the door enclosing said bracket and providing thelower edge of the door with a longitudinally extending housing, andtorsion bars disposed within said housing and having their outer endssecured to the side walls of the car against rotation, said bracketbeing engageable with said bars to twist them as the door is movedtoward open position to thereby provide a force tending to return thedoor to closed position.

8. In a railway gondola car having side walls and a pivoted drop enddoor adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adaptedto be disposed in overlapping relation with the car door when opened,brackets respectively secured to the lower corners of the door, andbrackets secured to the side walls respectively cooperating with saiddoor brackets for pivotally supporting the door, and torsion barsextending substantially parallel with the lower edge of the door andhaving their outer ends held against rotation by said brackets on thecar, and means on the door intermediate the sides thereof operable uponmovement of the door to open position to twist said bars so that a forceis provided tending to cause the door to return to closed position. ,Y9. In a railway gondola car having side walls and a pivoted drop enddoor adapted to be disposed n upright position when closed and adaptedto be disposed in overlapping relation with the car floor when opened,brackets on the side walls of the car having inwardly extending bossesaording a pivotal support for the door, and torsion bars extendingsubstantially parallel with the lower edge of the door, each of saidbrackets being respectively formed with recesses for receiving the outerends of the torsion bars to hold them against rotation, and means on thedoor having oppositely opening recesses engageable with the inner-endsof said bars for twisting them as the door moves toward open position tothereby provide a force tending to cause the door to return to closedposition.

l0. In a railway gondola car having side walls and a pivoted drop venddoor adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adaptedto be disposed in overlapping relation with the car oor when opened,brackets on the side walls of the car having inwardly projecting bossesImeans adjacent the lower portion of the door adapted to encircle saidbosses to pivotally connect the door to the car, torsion barssubstantially parallel with the lower edge of the door and extendingthrough said means on the door l to enable their outer ends to beengaged by said brackets to hold them against rotation, and

Ymeans on; the ldoor having; oppositely opening reoesses,engageablewith'fthe inner ends of said .harsfor twisting-themV as thedoor. moves: toward openrposition to therebyprovide; a force tendingto'returnithe: door toV closed position. k

.111.; In. a. railway gondola. car: having side walls .andraipivoteddrop end: door adapted to be dis- Lposedin upright position whenclosed and adaptredi-toi be vdisposedin `overlapping relation withthezcar-floor. when opened, brackets on thev side;4

walls of the car having inwardly extending bosszes; brackets connectedto the lower corners of therdoor respectively having cylindricalportions .12.. In a railway. gondola car having sidewalls and: a pivoteddrop end door adapted tol be dis-l posed in'.uprightposition when closedandadapted-v to:` be.' disposed in overlapping` relation with the carfloor'whenopened, said door having a l1`o,wer..circula1" portion,torsion means extending longitudinally of. the lower edge of the doorfor resisting movement. of the door. to open'position,

.and members securedto the. car onthe outer side .ofc saiddoor.v havingupstanding portions extend- .substantially parallel with thelongitudinal ot the car. adaptedzt'o engagethe outer face of. the doorwhen it is disposed in closed position. .113., In a railway gondola carhaving side walls 'and'a;.pivoted. drop end door adapted to' bel dis--posedin upright. position-when closed and adapted; to bev disposed inoverlapping relation with the. car floor when-opened, said door having acircular lowerv portion, torsion `means extending longitudinallyof thelower edge of the door for .resisting movement thereof to; openposition, an

end sill of the car having an upwardly projecting .portionf adapted tooverlap the outerface of' the door .when in closedY position, saidportion terminating substantially at the same elevation as the :pivotalaxis: of the door, and members` secured Atosaid endsillhaving uprightportions substan- :tially 'parallel with the longitudinal axisof the carand extending above the top of the end sill -for cooperating with theouter face of the door.

..14. In al railwaygondolacar hav-ing side walls .and a pivoteddropenddoor adapted tobe dis- .posedin upright position when closed,and. adaptaed to. be disposed in overlapping relation with -the-carfloor when opened, a pipe securedi to the lower portion of thei door,torsion bars within the pipe and connected to the door against. rotationrelatively thereto,; and: brackets on the car sides respectivelyrengageable -with the outer ends of :.said pipe for pivotally supportingthe door, said l bracket. respectively having portionsfor holding .theouter ends Aorf-said bars againstrotationv soi f tha'twheni thedoor ismovedtoward openl posi- .tion ther bars-are twisted and a forceV isthereby provided tending to cause the door to return; to

closed,- position.

15. In a railway gondola car having. side walls and a. piVotedf-dropend-l door adapted tol be disvposedin upright position when closed andadapted toF bedisposed in overlapping relation 'with 'the oar? oorwhenopened, a pipe securedA to the flower ,portion of. theY door, adownwardly-inclined shedding platevarranged above the'- pipe with oneYedge; securedfto the door. andl theopposite edge secured .to the.pipe,- torsion .bars extending longitudinally of theipipe andvconnected-1 tothe door against rotation'relatively thereto, and.brackets -on theoar affording a pivotal support for the door and forengaging the outer ends of said -bars' to hold them from rotation withrespect thereto sothatwhen the door is moved-toward open.- positionv thebars are twisted and a force is'thereby provided tending to return thedoor to closed position.

:16. In; a railway-'gondolacar having side walls and al pivotedy dropend door adaptedto. be disv posed -in upright positionwhen closed andadapt- ...ed tope-disposed inv overlapping relation with thecarfloor'when opened, said door having a -tubular portion extendinglongitudinally along =its=lower edge,a bracket respectively disposedwithin said tubular portion intermediate the sides of the door, andtorsion bars extending l through said tubular' portion and having their:outer ends'anchored4 to the car sides against rotation,'saidbracket'being cooperable with said barsior, twisting them as the doormoves toward open position and being provided with a portion extendingupwardly above said tubular portion for cooperating'with the inner faceof the door toY preventl it from being rotated with respect to thev doorduring openingmovement of the latter.

;l'7\. In a railway gondola car having side walls yand apivoted drop enddoor adapted tobe dis- I posedinupright positioniwhen closed andadapt-.,edgtolbef disposed inoverlapping relation with the cariloor whenAopened, said door having a tubularlower portion, torsion bars disposedwithin said tubular portion, brackets secured to the 4side walls of thecar affording a Pivotal support for theV door and for engaging the outerends of the torsion bars to hold them against rotation, and a bracketsecured to the door intermediate its -sides for engaging said torsionbars to twist them asthe door is moved toward open position, saidbracket having anupwardly extending portion engaging thev inner face ofthe door to prevent it. from being turned by twisting of said bars.

18.*In a railway gondola car having side walls and apivoted drop enddoor adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adapt-.ed' to be Vdisposed in overlapping relation with the car iioor whenopened, brackets secured to Athe door adjacent the lower cornersthereof,

brackets secured to the car sides for cooperating with said dool`brackets to provide a pivotal support therefor, a tube assembly securedto the 4.lower portion of the door and having end portions fitting overportions of said door brackets, and torsion bars disposed within saidtube assembly 4and having their outer ends anchored in the brackets onthe car body, said torsion bars being engageable. intermediate the sidesof the door =upon movement of the door toward open position totwist thebar-sand thereby provide a force tending to; return. the. door to closedposition.

19. In a railway gondola car having side walls -and..ax-pivoted' dropend door adapted to be disposed in uprightposition when closed andadaptved to be disposed in overlapping relation with the caroor'whenopened, a pipe secured to the lower Iportion of the door, torsion barsextending longitudinally within the pipe, and brackets se- .curedto theside walls of the car having bosses .extending intosaid pipe affording apivotal support for. the door,l said bosses respectively having frecesses for holding the outer ends of the torsion 13 gears againstrotation, vand means on the door intermediate the sidesfjv thereof andengageable with said torsion bars for twisting them during openingmovement of the door to thereby provide a. force tending to cause thedoor to return to closed position. l

20. In a railway gondola car having side walls and a pivoted drop endVdoor adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adaptedto be disposed in overlapping relation with the car floor when opened,brackets on the side walls of the car for pivotally mounting the door onthe car, a tubular portion along the lower edge of the door, torsionbars extending longitudinally of said tubular portion, and a bracketsecured to the door intermediate the side edge thereof for cooperatingwith the torsion bars, said brackets on the side walls of thecar beingengageable with the outer ends of the torsion bars to hold them againstrotation, atleast one of said bars extending from one side `ofA 'the carto the other.

21. In a railwayvfgondgola car having side walls and a pivoted drop end'door adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adaptedto be disposed in overlapping relation with the car iioor when opened,said door being provided with a tubular portionextending along its loweredge, torsion bars disposed within said tubular member, the outer endsof said torsion bars being secured to the sidewalls of the car againstrotation, a bracket within said tubular portion for cooperating withsaid torsion bars, and a member secured to the door extending throughsaid tubular portion and cooperable with said bracket for holding itagainstrotation with respect to said tubular portion so thatV when thedoor is moved toward closed position the bars are twisted and a force isthereby provided tending to return the door to closed position.

22. The methodrof applying to a railway gondola car a pivoted ydrop enddoor having a torsion spring device involving torsion bars extendinglongitudinally of the lower edge of the door and operatively connectedto the door and brackets mounted on the outer ends of the bars which areto be secured to the side walls of the car for holding the outer ends ofthe torsion bars against rotation, which consists in assembling thetorsion bars upon the door in operative relation thereto, mountingsaidbrackets upon the side edges of the doors "in engagement with the outerbracketprojecting below and offset from the door. lowering the doortowards its assembled closed position so as to impart torsion to saidbars by causing the brackets to execute a predetermined rotation byengaging xed portions of the car body, and thereafter securing thebrackets in fixed position to the side walls of the car.

`l23. The method of applying to a railway gondola *car a pivoted dropend door having a torsion spring :device involving torsion barsextending longitudinally of the lower edge of the door and operativelyconnected to the door and brackets mounted on the outer ends of the barswhich are to be secured to the side walls of the car for holding theouter ends of the torsion bars against rotation, which consists inassembling the torsion bars upon the door in operative relation thereto,mounting said brackets upon the outer ends of the bars in assembledrelation thereto with a portion of veach bracket projecting below andoffset from the door, positioning said door and the brackets carriedthereby abovevthe floor of the fear. lowering the door towards itsassembled closed position to cause said brackets to engage ixed portionsof the car body and thereby execute a predetermined rotation duringcompletion of the downward movement of the door to impart initialtorsion to said bars, and thereafter securing the brackets in xedposition with respect to the side walls of the car.

ERNEST G. GOODWIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Y'. UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 16,831 Goddard Mar. 17,185793,359 Smith Aug. 3,1869 728,044 Summers May l2, 1903 781,643 EdwardsFeb. 7, 1905 1,119,940 Edwards Dec. 8, 1914 1,284,413 Michaels Nov.12,1918 1,688,685 Campbell Oct. 23,1928 1,861,888 Stevens June 7, 1932 l2,061,318 Gilpin Nov. 17, 1936 'y 2,167,427 Tatum July 25,1939 2,258,447Fairbanks Oct. 7,1941 2,292,251 Test et al. Aug. 4, 1942 2,452,163 SwannOct. 26,1948

ends of said torsion bars with a portion of each

